THIS IS NOT A DEAD GIRL STORY

A potentially deadly disappearance shortly after a mysterious death leaves the sole remaining member of a trio of friends desperate to uncover the truth.

Sixteen-year-old Juliette Green and her 17-year-old cousin, Remy, have grown up together in Black Falls, New York, alongside River O’Dell, Remy’s magnetic boyfriend—and Jules’ best friend and secret crush. River’s sudden death completely devastates the girls, even before it’s ruled a suicide, and Jules’ grief turns to shock and terror when Remy disappears one week later, leaving behind her phone without its SIM card. Edgy, mischievous Remy can’t be dead—Jules just knows it—and she pulls Sam, River’s cousin, into her quest when their paths keep crossing and he seems to know things. Perceptive, observant Jules forges ahead despite discovering unsavory information about threatening people in her and Remy’s lives; the weight of all the secrets becomes suffocating even as Sam becomes indispensable and irresistible. When the teens are unable to count on the expected adults for help, they take matters into their own hands. This twisting narrative, which asks complex questions about power and autonomy, will keep even seasoned genre fans guessing while trusting them enough to avoid simplistic answers. Well-crafted suspense, emotionally compelling characters, and wild revelations will propel readers through some lulls in the action to an eminently realistic if slightly frustrating resolution. Main characters are cued white.

A clever, dogged, and well-executed mystery that examines critical issues.